Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Large sum of money seized from RVers at border

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials at the Blue Water Bridge seized $38,766 from two motor homes after the drivers failed to declare the cash, officials reported Tuesday.

It is not illegal to carry large sums of cash across the border but anything more than $10,000 must be declared to inspectors, said Chief Ron Smith, spokesman for Customs and Border Protection.

Smith said it is unclear why the people were carrying the cash. The incident happened as the motor homes were crossing into the United States about 1 p.m. Sunday. The drivers said they were headed to Mexico.

The cash — including Mexican pesos and Canadian and American dollars — was found in several places, in-cluding a safe built into a closet and beneath a false floor in the bottom of a bathroom cabinet.

The drivers of the motor homes, both Canadian citizens, are not in trouble, Smith said. He said the motor homes, along with a larger “convoy,” were allowed to continue on their way after the money was found.